For Gambrills resident, singing the anthem on 9/11 has special meaning

Several organizations around Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and Bowie held memorial ceremonies this week to commemorate Thursday's anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Atalie Day Brown, Correspondent

At exactly noon Thursday, EMT Kimberly Kerschner climbed up on the back of a 21/2-ton truck named BamBam to sing.

"Oh, say, can you see..."

The Gambrills woman had the unique honor of singing the "Star Spangled Banner" on the anniversary of 9/11 at an annual ceremony at Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie, just days before the nation marks the 200th birthday of its National Anthem.

"I was very nervous," Kerschner said.

The Glen Burnie-based business hosts the event to recognize sacrifices first responders make to their country. A firefighter, police officer or other first responder sang the anthem at each of its 10 locations.

Kerschner is a volunteer with the Jessup and Greenbelt volunteer fire departments. She is also a recruiter for the National Guard, where she also is assigned as a saxophonist with the 229th Maryland Army National Guard Band.

When she's not volunteering, she works as a Department of Defense police officer.

This was not the first time Kerschner has sung the anthem. She performed at the restaurant's Veterans Day celebration in November.

Like anyone who sings the song, she was worried about forgetting the words.